Libertarian Snobs? A Blue-Collar Libertarian Speaks Out!

I officially joined the Libertarian Party some time in 2003, after becoming disillusioned with the broken promises, duplicity, and outright lies of the two major parties in American politics. I have known about the Libertarian Movement for many years, but really never heard much about their platform. Two prominent Libertarian radio personalities, Chicago-based Eric "Mancow" Muller and Atlanta-based Neal Boortz, were largely responsible for introducing me to the basic principles of the "Party of Principle". From there, I went to the official Party website, www.lp.com, and found many fine resources. After having learned many wonderful things about them, I knew I found a party that puts personal liberty first instead of just talking about it. Their platform is based on the fact that the Constitution exists to protect the Rights of the INDIVIDUAL. Espousing a philosophy built on common sense, Libertarians in various levels of public office have actually reduced taxes and the size and scope of government wherever they've been elected, unlike mainstream politicians, who are constantly pissing on our shoes and telling us it's raining.

Unfortunately, however, I find that some Libertarians feel that the Party should be an exclusive club of sorts. These folks wish it to be a kind of MENSA whose membership is restricted to the wealthy and well-educated. Although they supposedly espouse an egalitarian philosophy where all segments of society are equal, these certain Libertarians tend to be snobs who look down their noses at blue-collar types like me. I have, unfortunately, met many of these uppity types personally, and they make no secret of their disdain for the working class, as if we are not worthy of freedom of choice, privacy, respect, or even being involved in politics at all.

Take the following incident for example: around September of 2004, I came across the website of the Knox County Libertarian Party, and noticed they were looking for people to help campaign locally for Michael Badnarik, the presidential candidate for the party. I decided I could help out, so I volunteered. They e-mailed me back, seemed genuinely excited about having me involved, and even asked me how many guests I was bringing and everything. I was told to meet them at the Panera on North Peters Road on a Saturday afternoon, around three. My boss let me take lunch late so I could go to the meeting, since the furniture warehouse I worked at was just down the road. When I walked in the door, almost every one of the artsy-fartsy yuppies inside looked at me like I had leprosy. I walked up to the counter and asked the cashier if the Libertarians were meeting there, and she had no clue. I thought there'd be some kind of sign, or at least somebody to come ask me if I was looking for the Libertarians. I thought of asking around each table, but I was already self-conscious enough at the moment. After 30 minutes, I left and went back to work.

The next Tuesday, I get on the KCLP site, and read all about how great the meeting went at the Panera. I WAS PISSED! I knew the deal; I'd experienced it many times before, and probably will 'till the day I die. Evidently, the Libertarians of Knox County took one look at me in my warehouse uniform, and decided that I was just some knuckle-draggin' redneck whose life revolved around cheap beer and his singing fish, so they just ignored me until I left! Yeah, they were delighted to have me on board all right; until they saw what I looked like! Ya damn skippy I posted a comment on their website, a short-and-sweet missive expressing my displeasure for wasting my lunch hour, and not even getting to eat! What happened next only exacerbated my ire.

I get an e-mail from the head of this group (who shall remain nameless, because I am a gentleman), and he condescendingly tells me "If you feel you MUST be included, you can put out campaign signs for us." Not even an apology for wasting my time (I reckon he figured my time wasn't all that valuable anyway!). I deleted my account from the website, and just went on with my life. Fortunately, I have met many great Libertarians online and in person who think of me as a little higher on the evolutionary scale, anyway. No, a few insufferable, stuck-up college jerks will never dissuade me from this wonderful organization. I am much tougher than that!

Believe it or not, there are many blue-collar Libertarians, and we have the same beliefs and desires for a truly free America as our college-educated compatriots. We want personal freedom, and the personal responsibility that comes with it. We would like to keep most of the money we work so hard to earn, and have some say-so on how the money that is taken from our paychecks each week is spent. We want to be able to choose where and how we educate our children. We want to be allowed to decide what we put into our bodies, minds, and souls. We want the freedom to protect ourselves, our families, and our property by any means necessary, and not be punished for fighting back. We believe the Constitution actually means something, and we cherish the God-given rights it was drafted to protect!

Above all else, we, like you, just want to be left alone. We want the government out of our private lives so we can manage our own affairs. Yeah, we may get dirty and nasty from our jobs, and come home good n' sore after working a 12-hour shift in a factory, warehouse, or construction site, but if it weren't for us, the Smart Set wouldn't have anything to live in, eat, drive, or watch Jeopardy on. How any American lives his or her life is nobody's business. If we aren't hurting anybody, then let us be. Oh, and just for the record, a college degree does not mean you're better (or smarter) than everyone else, and a lack of one doesn't mean you should be sentenced to a lifetime of serfdom!